Pre-Season 1996/97
Friday 19th July 1996 Home v Bolton Wanderers (Friendly) HT 0 - 1 FT 0 - 5
Around 3,000 turned up at Crilly Park to watch this pre-season
friendly. Atherton battled hard and restricted Bolton to a 1-0 half time lead,
following a Scott Sellars header in the 20th minute. However, Bolton dominated
the second half. Gerry Taggart headed in a Scott Green free kick and in the 67th
minute Bolton were awarded a penalty which John McGinlay scored. A well struck
goal from Sasa Curcic in the 74th minute added the fourth while three minutes
from time a good build up by Circic and Fabian De Freitas ended with Scott
Taylor scoring. Another report credits Nicky Campbell as scoring the final goal,
but he wasn’t in the Bolton lineup that night.
Sadly this was the last time that Bolton Wanderers were to send their first team
to Crilly Park for a pre-season friendly
Bolton Wanderers - Keith Branagan, Scott Green, Gerry Taggart, Chris
Fairclough, Jimmy Phillips, Scott Sellars, Sasa Curcic, Wayne Burnett, John
McGinlay, Mixu Paatelainen, David Lee Subs Fabian DeFreitas, Greg Strong, Scott
Taylor, Stuart Whittaker
Thursday 25th July 1996 Home v Bury XI (Friendly) Drew 3 - 3
LR took on a Bury representative XI for this Thursday night fixture. Goals from Steve Gavin, Simon Whittle and a Damien Kelly penalty ensured a well earned draw.
There were other pre-season friendlies organised against Leyland, Thackley, Salford City, Castleton Gabriels and Witton Albion, but as yet no confirmation has been found as to whether the games were played or not.